The synagogue will be closed next week, December 4 - 8 (with the exception of the D'var Workshop). Regular operations resume with Erev Shabbat on December 8th.
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 16 Kislev 5784
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Erev Shabbat Friday, December 1 Choir Shabbat, 6:30 pm Hybrid Our Shabbat services, on Zoom and in person with Kol N'shama, the TBH Choir! Join us to light candles and gather in community to celebrate Shabbat.
Tot Shabbat, 10:00 am In Person All kids ages 0-6 and their grown-ups and families are invited to share in song, story, movement, music and prayer as we celebrate Shabbat together! Our Tot Shabbat will be held in the sanctuary at TBH. Followed by crafts and snack in the Social Hall
THIS WEEK AT TBH
Melaveh Malka: Folk Dancing! Saturday, December 2, 7:00 pm In Person
Melaveh Malka is a traditional term describing Saturday night—accompanying Shabbat out as we get ready for the new week. Visit with your Jewish community and have fun! Dahna Berkson will lead us in folk dancing this month!
Hanukkah Play and Learn Sunday, December 3, 1:00 pm In Person
Join our teacher, Jessica, for a series of activities, stories and crafts to learn about Hanukkah and prepare for the holiday! Geared for kids ages 4-8.
Cancelled: Reparations Study Group Sunday, December 3, January 7, February 4, 3:00 - 5:00 pm Hybrid
The Study Group on Reparations has been cancelled due to low enrollment.
Cancelled: Senior Schmooze Tuesday, December 5, 12:00 pm In Person
The December Senior Schmoooze has been cancelled--see you in January!
ForKids Food Packing @ Food Bank Tuesday, December 5, 4:00 pm In Person
Kudos to the eight people who enjoyed bagging lunches at the Thurston County Food Bank in Tumwater on the first Tuesday of November, November 7. The eight included Bernie, Emily, Tikva, Ricki, Michael, Paige and Brad. We were there for two hours. Even if volunteers can only remain for an hour and need to arrive late, that is okay but we will try to start right at 4. We expect that on December 5 when we next will be bagging at the Tumwater Branch of the Thurston County Food Bank, that we will have additional help. We also are looking forward to new volunteers. We also like children. It is not too late to sign up as we bag groceries on the first Tuesday of the Month at 4 p.m.
Bernie Friedman will be taking over for the months of December, January and February, and if you have any concerns or questions, you should direct those to Bernie, whose phone number is 360 528 7447 and his email address is Bernief@comcaast.net. Bernie, Beth Dubey and Edie Bean are the most experienced volunteers as they have been with this program since the beginning. We would welcome additional volunteers in the future as well, as if we have 10-12 people present, it speeds up the process.
The following are the current statistics of people being helped by the Thurston County Food Bank overall this calendar year: 1,522 children served weekly by ForKids, 62,000 individuals served by the Food Bank, 1.8 million pounds of food rescued via grocery rescue, 2,315 volunteers, 47,000 hours of donated time, valued at more than $750,000, and 5.5 million pounds of food distributed. 42% of the Thurston County Food Bank clients are children and 21% of the clients are seniors. 5.5 million pounds of food have thus far been distributed.
TBH was the first faith community to volunteer to pack bags for the ForKids program when it began in 2007 in the cold environs of the downtown branch of the Thurston County Food Bank. The addition of Anna-Min has improved the food that that we bag and which is being delivered weekly to elementary schools in the three school districts of North Thurston, Tumwater, and Olympia, and each week since the beginning of September there have been more and more bags needed to be filled as the need has increased.
For more information, please feel free to contact either Bernie Friedman at bernief25@comcast.net or Elie Halpern at ehalpern7379@gmail.com.
COMING UP AT TBH
We want to hear your Torah! & "How to Give a D'var Torah" workshop Thursday, December 7, 7:00 pm Online
Are you interested in giving a d’var Torah at an upcoming Shabbat service? Share your interpretation, ideas, teachings about the weekly Torah portion? If you are comfortable doing so and want to jump right in, sign up for an upcoming opportunity on this form.
If you want to but you are not sure how, Rabbi Seth will teach you! Come to the “How to Give a D’var Torah” workshop. We will learn how to begin, prepare, research, and deliver a d’var Torah. Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. Online only. Free. Please register in advance for planning purposes.
Remember: Torah is for all! There is no one “right” interpretation! We are all learners and we are all teachers! Zoom Information: Register>>
Erev Shabbat Service (No Salon) Friday, December 8 In Person
We will be taking a break from Salons this month, please join us in January with speaker Dontae Payne! Registration will open soon. Instead for the second week of December, we will hold a regular Erev Shabbat Service, in person only, in the TBH Sanctuary.
TBH Hanukkah Party & Community Candle Lighting Sunday, December 10, 6:00 pm In Person
Mark your calendars! This year's Hanukkah Party will take place at TBH on the 4th night. We will need latke makers this year. Please contact Catherine if you are able to help.
New this year: fill your own donut bar! TBH will provide latkes and donuts, please bring a potluck vegetarian dish to share if you are able.
Beginning Hebrew for Adults Starts January 21, 2:45 pm In Person
Want to learn the aleph-bet? Want to be able to pick up a prayerbook or Torah and be able to read through? Time to learn Hebrew! At the end of this class students will be able to read and decode Hebrew with some introduction to vocabulary, grammar and the meaning behind our sacred language. Class meets for 10 Sundays, 2:45-4:00 beginning in January: Jan 21, Feb 4, 11, 25, Mar 10, Apr 7, 14, 28, May 19, June 2. (Note: the timing and schedule of the class coincides with the second session of the Darchei Noam youth program) All materials provided. Free for TBH Members, $72 for non-members.
Now that we are bringing back Shabbat morning services twice a month, we are looking for Torah readers. Are you interested in reading Torah? Sign up on this Google Sheet , the services for the next few months are listed.
Are you interested in giving a d’var Torah at an upcoming Shabbat service? Share your interpretation, ideas, teachings about the weekly Torah portion? If you are comfortable doing so and want to jump right in, sign up for an upcoming opportunity on this form. See workshop information above.
Contact Rabbi Seth with any questions
Hanukkah Shop is Open! Plus Books and Judaica
The TBH self-serve pop up shop is open in the TBH Social Hall. Pick up your gelt, candles, decor and more anytime you are in the building!
We have some used Judaica and books left after the Hanukkah Bazaar that are available for take home in the TBH Old Foyer. Donations accepted but not required for rehoming!
Israel Updates & Opportunities for Support
As the fighting between Israel and Hamas continues, here are some links from our affiliate organizations:
Judith Rose Koral Bessie Klotz Marcheta Bean Edward Duthweiler Diana Connors Schilling George Hoffman Adlaide Bamberger Bill Kolker Arlene Glantz Dallas Cline C. William Chappell Earl Bean Earl Bean Michael Brocha Harry Robinson Elizabeth Solomon Karen "Rosemary" Snyder Albert Tenenbaum Minnie Cohn Gregory John Neff Beatrice Kalikow
Happy Birthday!
29 Stan Shore 30 Marissa Schuhlein 2 Daniel Zeitlin 3 Stephen Hodes 3 Martin Bard
Yahrtzeit Updates & Additions
Members are able to view, edit, and add Yahrtzeits on the member portal of the TBH website here (requires log in). If you need assistance, please feel free to send any updates to tbh@bethhatfiloh.org.
COMMUNITY EVENTS/RESOURCES: Note: These are not officially sponsored or endorsed by TBH, but they are listed as they have Jewish content and/or may be of interest to our community.
Hear Our Voices: A Special Session at the UN on Sexual-Based Violence War Crimes that occurred on October 7th by Hamas in Israel Monday, December 4, 8:30 am Online
Reconstructing Judaism and the National Council for Jewish Women are raising awareness on this special session at UN Headquarters.
Join us for this special session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to give voice to those silenced. We invite ambassadors, politicians, feminist organizations, and nonprofit leaders from around the world to stand with us as we hear from witnesses, experts, and human rights activists.
At CSS, our campers are immersed in Judaism, make lifelong friends, experience growth in their social skills, and, of course, have a TON of fun! We have a large amount of scholarship funds available to ensure that every camper can come to camp for Summer 2024.
The priority application deadline for all scholarships is Friday, March 8, 2024. The second round deadline is Friday, April 19, 2024.
Stroum Jewish Community Center: 2024 JCC Maccabi Games
The J is putting together a team of 15 Jewish teens to travel to the 2024 JCC Maccabi Games, an Olympics-style competition, in Detroit. We are hoping to form a basketball or soccer team; spots are also open for individual athletes in sports such as swimming, golf, dance, table tennis, star reporter, and more.
